Planet Labs PBC
Welcome to Planet
We believe in using space to help life on Earth. Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors.
About the Role The Electro‑Optical Systems team at Planet is seeking an Opto‑Mechanical Engineer to help drive the design of payloads in Planet's fleet of Earth‑imaging satellites. Your mission will be to champion our payload design efforts, with a specific focus on opto‑mechanical design and manufacturing.
Impact You Own
Own the opto‑mechanical manufacturing process of optical payloads on Planet's next‑generation satellites.
Design the manufacturing line for mid‑volume production of optical payloads. Make first‑principle based, data‑driven decisions throughout the design process to ensure efficient assembly and test processes.
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams such as structural, thermal analysts and optical engineer groups to drive and perform analyses to ensure payloads meet stiffness, strength, thermal, and launch survivability requirements, as well as maintain on‑orbit performance through STOP (Structural, Thermal, Optical Performance).
Drive part and assembly design, manage fabrication with key vendors, perform failure analysis, and execute tolerance stackup and GD&T analyses to ensure precision and reliability.
Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation.
Lead technical presentations and reviews across all design review gates.
Support test planning and qualification test campaigns.
Be hands‑on with flight and test hardware.
What You Bring
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
4+ years experience owning the development of opto‑mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing and manufacturing.
Experience designing for high‑reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, on‑orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP).
Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements.
Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases.
Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Experience working in a dynamic environment while driving projects to completion.
Good verbal and visual communication skills.
What Makes You Stand Out
Expertise in optics / opto‑mechanical manufacturing, metrology, alignment and calibration.
Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems.
Experience with dynamic hardware builds, vibration and shock testing, telescope assembly, and optical performance testing.
Experience applying systems engineering principles to optimize optical payload integration, focusing on requirements management, trade‑off analysis, and balancing system‑level constraints such as cost, schedule, and performance.
Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM/DFA.
Proficiency in SolidWorks, Zemax, Matlab, Visual Basic, Python and/or C/C++.
Benefits While Working at Planet
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution.
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company‑wide days off.
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Home Office Reimbursement.
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement.
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
Equity.
Commuter Benefits (if local to an office).
Volunteering Paid Time Off.
Compensation The US base salary range for this full‑time position at the commencement of employment is listed below. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short‑term and long‑term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job‑related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only.
San Francisco Salary Range: $128,400 — $160,500 USD.
Application Deadline March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.
EAR/ITAR Requirements This position requires access to export‑controlled information, and as such, employment is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export‑controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
EEO Statement Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Accommodations Planet is an inclusive community. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com.
Privacy Policy By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
Privacy Policy (European Applicants) By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
AI in Our Interviewing Process Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We are currently exploring AI interviewing technologies to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes.
Candidate AI Policy Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact accommodations@planet.com with your request for assistance.
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About the Role The Electro‑Optical Systems team at Planet is seeking an Opto‑Mechanical Engineer to help drive the design of payloads in Planet's fleet of Earth‑imaging satellites. Your mission will be to champion our payload design efforts, with a specific focus on opto‑mechanical design and manufacturing.
Impact You Own
Own the opto‑mechanical manufacturing process of optical payloads on Planet's next‑generation satellites.
Design the manufacturing line for mid‑volume production of optical payloads. Make first‑principle based, data‑driven decisions throughout the design process to ensure efficient assembly and test processes.
Collaborate with cross‑functional teams such as structural, thermal analysts and optical engineer groups to drive and perform analyses to ensure payloads meet stiffness, strength, thermal, and launch survivability requirements, as well as maintain on‑orbit performance through STOP (Structural, Thermal, Optical Performance).
Drive part and assembly design, manage fabrication with key vendors, perform failure analysis, and execute tolerance stackup and GD&T analyses to ensure precision and reliability.
Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation.
Lead technical presentations and reviews across all design review gates.
Support test planning and qualification test campaigns.
Be hands‑on with flight and test hardware.
What You Bring
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field.
4+ years experience owning the development of opto‑mechanical products from requirements through conceptual design, testing and manufacturing.
Experience designing for high‑reliability space environments including launch survivability, vacuum conditions, on‑orbit performance through thermal conditions (STOP).
Experience in the design and fabrication of optical assemblies, incorporating components made from glass, carbon fiber, metals, ceramics, epoxies, as well as mechanisms and electrical elements.
Practical and direct engagement with hardware, from prototyping to production and testing phases.
Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
Experience working in a dynamic environment while driving projects to completion.
Good verbal and visual communication skills.
What Makes You Stand Out
Expertise in optics / opto‑mechanical manufacturing, metrology, alignment and calibration.
Ability to build out the manufacturing line for precision optical systems.
Experience with dynamic hardware builds, vibration and shock testing, telescope assembly, and optical performance testing.
Experience applying systems engineering principles to optimize optical payload integration, focusing on requirements management, trade‑off analysis, and balancing system‑level constraints such as cost, schedule, and performance.
Ability to drive manufacturers and DFM/DFA.
Proficiency in SolidWorks, Zemax, Matlab, Visual Basic, Python and/or C/C++.
Benefits While Working at Planet
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans.
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution.
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company‑wide days off.
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Home Office Reimbursement.
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement.
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
Equity.
Commuter Benefits (if local to an office).
Volunteering Paid Time Off.
Compensation The US base salary range for this full‑time position at the commencement of employment is listed below. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary short‑term and long‑term incentives (bonus and equity). The final salary range is determined by job‑related experience, skills and location. The range displays our typical hiring range for new hire salaries in US locations only.
San Francisco Salary Range: $128,400 — $160,500 USD.
Application Deadline March 16, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.
EAR/ITAR Requirements This position requires access to export‑controlled information, and as such, employment is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export‑controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
EEO Statement Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Accommodations Planet is an inclusive community. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com.
Privacy Policy By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
Privacy Policy (European Applicants) By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.
AI in Our Interviewing Process Planet is committed to providing an exceptional interview experience for all candidates. We are currently exploring AI interviewing technologies to better focus on candidates and less on trying to capture notes.
Candidate AI Policy Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. However, during any live interview stage or when actively completing assessments for this position, the use of AI tools is strictly prohibited unless explicitly prompted by an interviewer or assessment instructions. If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact accommodations@planet.com with your request for assistance.
#J-18808-Ljbffr